Pellsons Perceivings

[Pellson]

Only some minor modelling performed during the week, as described in relevant project thread(s). While doing that, however, I also had a closer look at the load supplied with the wing donor Revell Gripen. Some serious guesswork there, I tell you. See for yourselves:

You cannot view this attachment.

The Maverick missile is rather OK, I'll give them that. But the "rocket pod"?! It's not even half the diameter of the actual Bofors rocket pod, and that's not even used on the Gripen.
The Sidewinder is at least identifiable as such, even if it's bad, and the Skyflash is even quite good, but there's two "recce pods", neither of them even close to anything real. The longer one, however, is reasonably good dimensionally for a "KA" ECM Pod, albeit missing a few blobs. Those are rather easily fixed with Plasticard, so OK, I'll be using it. But the short one, while also useable as an ECM pod, will need some creative backstory writing.

The RBS15 is entirely fictional, but as it looks like nothing else, it's useable as a fictional weapon. The RBS15F however does bear some resemblance to the real thing, but it's too long and wrongly shaped forwards. As a fictional TV or IR guided land attack missile, however..

Well, I'll find good use for all of it, I presume, but it'll be whifworld alright.

[Pellson]

Having taken inventory of the load options for my RSwAF flotilla, I'm realising that I'm in for another rather boring painting session. Ah, well. Eventually I'll get there..

In the meantime, I've treated myself to yet another SAAB (is there no end to this madness!) this time a somewhat overpriced Airfix Draken. What to do with it is still somewhat unclear, but in any case, it can't become anything RM6C/ Avon 300 powered due to its somewhat anorectic rear, but there are as usual options. Either I'll combine it with another old Revell Draken (which I admittedly does not have at the moment) to make a second, Finnish, J35B, or I'll have a serious look at the AS35X, an actual strike/recce variant evolved in the process towards the Danish 35XD project. While both versions were developed from the J35D, the AS35X featured a General Electric J79, replacing the RM6C, and a longer, pointier nose to further enhance aerodynamics. My idea here is to look at using the leftover Revell exhaust and nose cone, creating something looking a bit like Thomas's A35G but probably with the older, lower canopy. If so, it'll be interesting to see if it's possible to make a decent Draken from the otherwise rather awful Airfix kit. And if not, building another J35B is, as said, an option once I can source another Revell kit.

But that's then. First some serious thinking about armament and loads on my existing/built Drakens, then some painting, and then we'll see.

[Charlie_c67]

Anorectic rear, like what you did there 

Are all your Drakens to be RW or could something like semi-recessed missiles a la the Phantom and Tornado F.3?

[Captain Canada]

I'm really digging the way that canard variant looks ! Seems alot bigger.

[Pellson]

Anorectic rear, like what you did there 

Yes, well - there is a reason. Have a look at these comparisons:

This is the business end of an Airfix J35F Draken. As you can see, the fuselage is hugging the exhaust rather tightly, following the circular afterburner end to a fault.

You cannot view this attachment.

This, however, is the same view on a Hasegawa J35F. Spot the difference? It's wider, and it's rather flattened top and bottom, insomuch that the fuselage is more ogival than circular. The exhaust itself, however, is still circular, and also the same size.

You cannot view this attachment.

Finally, a shot of the rear end of a real J35F from a museum. You can clearly see which kit manufacturer who got it right..

You cannot view this attachment.

Given the above shown differences between the kits, I've decided on a few things
Only use the Hasegawa kit for Avon 300 / RM6C powered Drakens!
The Airfix rear end, as shown being more narrow, will in my whifworld be used for earlier Drakens, the J35A long and J35B, being powered by the Avon 200 / RM6B engine. While technically not correct as both the RM6B/EBK66 and RM6C/EBK67 shared an identical rear, it allows me to make any use at all of the Airfix model, which is a lot easier to get hold of. Also, this difference emphasizes the different power between the versions that otherwise are very, very similar.

Are all your Drakens to be RW or could something like semi-recessed missiles a la the Phantom and Tornado F.3?

Semirecessing missiles will require the internal volume to stow the protruding missile fins. That space doesn't quite exist in such a narrow airframe as the Draken. Hence no missile troughs.

I'm really digging the way that canard variant looks ! Seems alot bigger.

Interestingly, it isn't much bigger at all. The wing area is larger, the span somewhat wider, but the fuselage is exactly the same. But yes, I agree. It feels a bit bigger nevertheless.

[Pellson]

..and while at extrapolating reality a bit:

Remember these "recce pods" from the Revell Gripen prototype kit?

You cannot view this attachment.

Compared to a 1/72 U22 ECM pod from Maestro, the longer pods look rather good. A blob and an attachment rail, and we're good.

Also, reading up a bit, there was a development ongoing to miniaturise the U22 to make it viable for smaller, less capable airframes. This project, the U25, was primarily intended for the SAAB B3LA/A38 light attack/trainer that never came to be. However, given the similarities in shape of the pods above, methinks the showered one, with a blob etc, will be a nice representation of an U22. Don't you? EDIT: LOWER one. Ffs..

As it happens, I think they'll be a nice fit under the wings of my modernised Tunnans, the S29F and the A29G. Intended to operate in CAS roles close to the front in northern Scandinavia, these 29's would certainly need some protection from Soviet SAM and AAA batteries, and the bigger U22 pods would look a bit heavy under these small airframes.

[NARSES2]

However, given the similarities in dhape of the pods above, methinks the showered one, with a blob etc, will be a nice representation of an U22. Don't you?

Yup 

[Charlie_c67]

Are all your Drakens to be RW or could something like semi-recessed missiles a la the Phantom and Tornado F.3?

Semirecessing missiles will require the internal volume to stow the protruding missile fins. That space doesn't quite exist in such a narrow airframe as the Draken. Hence no missile troughs.
 

See your point, but what about some sort of aerodynamic fairing as ringed in the wing gloves (?) below? Or is that likely to throw the airflow out too much? It's been over 20 years since my fluid flow lectures!

Draken_Kittila_(cropped) by charlie_c67, on Flickr

[Pellson]

Are all your Drakens to be RW or could something like semi-recessed missiles a la the Phantom and Tornado F.3?

Semirecessing missiles will require the internal volume to stow the protruding missile fins. That space doesn't quite exist in such a narrow airframe as the Draken. Hence no missile troughs.
 

See your point, but what about some sort of aerodynamic fairing as ringed in the wing gloves (?) below? Or is that likely to throw the airflow out too much? It's been over 20 years since my fluid flow lectures!

Draken_Kittila_(cropped) by charlie_c67, on Flickr

The engine fills the circular fuselage rather well, as you might be able to see from this cutaway:

You cannot view this attachment.

Also, that's where the external load goes, such as tanks or missiles:

You cannot view this attachment.

And I like to keep my whifs within the range of what's generally possible and reasonable. Semirecessed missiles on a Draken is just a tad too far out for me. But that's just me.

[Rick Lowe]

Folding fins? 
Wasn't that how they did it in the RW for the Phantoms? 
Or am I talking out of a hole in my head, as usual? 

[Pellson]

Folding fins? 
Wasn't that how they did it in the RW for the Phantoms? 
Or am I talking out of a hole in my head, as usual? 

I think you're wrong, actually. Look at the forward right trough on this F-4G

You cannot view this attachment.

[PR19_Kit]

Yes, all F-4s, apart from the RF versions, had slots in the fuselage to take the fins of the Sparrows, or Skyflashes etc.

[Pellson]

In other news, I received one of those Airfix Draken kits I haven't been able to resist procuring. Having dryfitted and fiddled a bit, it's rather clear that the intakes can't be shortened enough to match the early, J35A/B/C type intakes, but they're also not quite representing the later and longer intakes either. However, this might be fixable whereas shortening them just isn't.
Also, as has been shown above, the rear end won't work for an Avon 300 powered Draken, basically leaving us with a model of a Draken with later, longer intakes an smaller, earlier outlet. As far as I can see, there's only one option left - cutting off the rear end, and replacing it with the old Revell parts left over from my J35B build. That would open up for something AS35X-like, i.e not Avon powered.
To properly build an AS35X, one should probably look at replacing most of the rear end with an open J79 feathered exhaust, but I'm not so sure, actually. The step in the fuselage will be rather ugly, from measurements. And the Draken kind of need it's covered arse, so maybe I'll go the @Dizzyfugu way and use the original, too long "short" Revell exhaust to "cover up" the step and feathers?

Also, the Airfix wingtips are unsalvageable, so as I'll have to do something there anyway, maybe a dogtooth and wingtip Sidewinders? Or I'll just dogtooth the wings and reshape the outermost tip with some plasticard.

Or I'll do something entirely different.

Anyway. I'll need another old Revell kit for the Finnish J35BS I want.

[Rick Lowe]

Folding fins? 
Wasn't that how they did it in the RW for the Phantoms? 
Or am I talking out of a hole in my head, as usual? 

I think you're wrong, actually. Look at the forward right trough on this F-4G

You cannot view this attachment.

Oops, my mistake... 
I never knew there were slots.
Ah well, always something to learn. 

[Dizzyfugu]

As a side note: mental work on the J31 makes progress. I have been writing together a background story while collecting donor kits and parts. The tail is still open - will be a cruciform arrangement, I think, but slightly swept, to match the new wings. The whole thing might look pretty weird!